New Jersey Police Officer Dresses as Shrub to Catch Texting Drivers, 74 Ticketed in Six Hours

Motorists in a New Jersey town got an unexpected surprise when a police officer disguised as a shrub helped crack down on distracted driving.

The unusual enforcement operation was carried out by the Dunellen Police Department during a six-hour traffic safety campaign on July 29. Photographs shared by the department showed an officer concealed in head-to-toe green foliage camouflage, complete with binoculars, as he watched for drivers using their mobile phones behind the wheel.

Sharing the images on Facebook, the department joked: “Did you spot our ‘shrub’ today? If you had your head buried in your phone, probably not!”

Police said the operation focused on a busy downtown area with heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic, where distracted driving poses a greater risk to public safety.

The creative tactic appeared to pay off. Officers issued 74 citations for distracted driving during the six-hour exercise, underscoring how common the offence remains despite existing laws.

Using the campaign to reinforce its road safety message, the department reminded motorists that no text message or notification is worth risking a crash, urging drivers to keep their eyes on the road instead of their screens.

Under New Jersey’s hands-free driving law, offenders face fines starting at $200, rising to as much as $600 for repeat violations. Drivers who accumulate three offences may also have their licences suspended for up to 90 days.